Blog Resources

Ever since the launch of this blog, I received quite a few messages with questions on how I started The Manliness Kit. For this reason, I thought it would be a good idea to list all the tools and resources that I use on daily basis. I will be updating this list continuously as I find more tools that are noteworthy.

Rest assured that I only include the type of resources that I’ve used and tested myself. I’m not going to recommend something that I wouldn’t use.

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links and I will earn a very small commission (sometimes even less than 5%) if you purchase through those links. It doesn’t cost you, the customer, anything extra. The seller just gives me, the affiliate, a little reward for telling you about their product. I use all of the products listed below and I recommend them because they are companies that I have found helpful and trustworthy.

Necessary tools for The Manliness Kit to work

WebHostingHub – WebHostingHub is one of the best hosting companies out there. Either you’re starting just now in the blogosphere or not, there are hosting plans to fit your needs. Super simple to get started! They offer a 1-click wordpress installation and you’re ready to start blogging within minutes. Not to mention their A+ customer support that is excellent and can be reached either via phone or email.

Apart from the above, WebHostingHub offers free domain name registration with every plan and very low monthly costs.

Want more? No problem!

I’ve been a loyal customer of WebHostingHub and you can get a discount on your monthly subscription if you purchase any plan via clicking one of my links. As you see from the banner, you get your hosting plan for only $4.99 per month!

If you have any questions regarding WebHostingHub, feel free to get in touch with me.

The Genesis Framework – The Genesis Framework is what is currently running on The Manliness Kit. Many of the most famous bloggers trust Genesis with their eyes closed. Before I installed Genesis Framework, my site’s loading time was 4 times longer than it is now. If you try it out, you’ll see a huge difference between before and after installing it.

When you purchase the Genesis, you’ll most probably need to get a child theme. The Framework costs $59.95 and a child theme can start from $0 up to $70, if purchased directly from StudioPress (prices vary).

But what is this framework and child theme I’m talking about? Imagine that your blog is a house. The framework is everything that has to do with the walls and floors and the structure of the house. Now, the child theme is like the interior design, the paint, windows, furniture and whatever makes your house look great. If you think you had a good “house” up till now, the Genesis Framework, will make it a paradise.

The Magazine Theme – As indicated, this blog runs the Genesis Framework and if you decide to use it, you will need a child theme. The child theme of this blog is the Magazine Pro Theme. There a lot of child themes to choose from either free or paid and I’m sure that you’ll find something that matches the blog design you have in mind. Even if you get a child theme, customisation doesn’t stop there. since you can insert your own code easily and adapt it to your liking.

NameCheap is on of the biggest and most affordable domain registration companies. I’ve been using this company for many years and I’ve registered tens of different domains with them. The Manliness Kit is no exception. On top of the great prices, they offer FREE private registration that with other companies would cost you as much as the domain you purchase.

The purchase and registration is very easy but if you experience any issues, the excellent customer service will help you at no time. If you register a domain via one of my links here, you’ll get a discount on your registration due to my long relationship with this company. Saving money isn’t that bad, or is it?

99designs If you’re wondering where you can get a great and inexpensive logo design, 99designs is probably your best bet. The concept is super simple! You indicate how your design wants to look like and you launch a contest! Once the contest is launched, many talented designers compete to deliver their most creative piece. Once you decide which design looks better for your needs, you pick the winner and get your exclusive logo!

WordPress – Without Wordress, blogging for many people, including myself, would have been a nightmare. It’s so simple that anyone can start blogging since there’s no need for any coding. Gone are the days that you had to be a programmer in order to own and operate a blog. Try it out!

Mailchimp – Mailchimp is the email marketing software that I currently use to send my email updates to the subscribers of The Manliness Kit. It’s very easy to use and you can start your own email list for free with no hassle. You can send emails to up to 2500 subscribers without paying a singly penny. Besides sending my email marketing campaigns, I also use mailchimp to build my subscriber list which is stored locally within the mailchimp platform.

The Book that inspired me to start this blog

Many bloggers, including myself, got inspired by the best seller 4-hour work week. I’ve read it a few years ago and it’s the book that changed my life. If it wasn’t for this book, The Manliness Kit most probably wouldn’t exist. Even if blogging isn’t for you, this book might change the way you see a 9-5 job.

If you have any questions about anything listed below, I will be more than happy to discuss them with you and find the right tools to get you started!